Hello, welcome to the Folklore Forum, your place to explore the world of folk and fairy tales. This week, I’m sharing the final part—Chapter 3—from my latest short story, In the Company of Elves—the origin story of my two favourite Seelie (or Elf) characters, Agnur & Ulfur. If you haven’t listened to Chapter 1 or 2, you can go back to the previous episodes and listen before starting this one.

If you want to read the full story you can download and read it for free by going to www.folkloreforum.org 

* This story was written, read, edited, and produced by Natalie Guttormsson.

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Enter the woods & and add some folklore to your weekend. Get weekly insights, first-access to original stories, and notifications of new episodes of The Folklore Forum podcast. Sign up for Saturday Stories from Natalie Guttormsson.

Hello, welcome to the Folklore Forum, your place to explore the world of folk and fairy tales. This week, I’m sharing Chapter 2 from my latest short story, In the Company of Elves—the origin story of my two favourite Seelie (or Elf) characters, Agnur & Ulfur. If you haven’t listened to Chapter 1, you can go back to the previous episode and listen before starting this one. The third and final chapter will debut in the next episode.

Part 3 - Chapter 3 will be out next episode, but if you can’t wait to find out how this story concludes and whether Ulfur will be accepted into Seelie society by their Queen, you can download and read the full story for free by going to www.folkloreforum.org 

* This story was written, read, edited, and produced by Natalie Guttormsson.

In this episode, I have a treat for you listeners. I’m turning my latest short story, In the Company of Elves, into an audiobook, and over the next three episodes, I’ll be sharing one chapter of the recording with you at a time.

This episode includes Chapter One, Part One, of In the Company of Elves. Part 2 - Chapter 2 will be out next episode, but if you can’t wait to find out what happens next, you can download and read the full story for free by going to www.folkloreforum.org  

The story was written, read, edited, and produced by me, Natalie Guttormsson.

Why is it that we love talking about elves, huldufolk, and fairies? Why do we have so much passion about these stories and is it unique to one culture? Find out in this episode of the Folklore forum

*NEW SHORT STORY*

In the Company of Elves by Natalie Guttormsson

Resources:

Neil Gaiman - Stories Keep Us Alive

Blind Boy Podcast - Hozier

Start your weekend off with a little bit of whimsy and inspiration by signing up for my Saturday Stories and you'll receive:

Sign up for Saturday Stories by visiting www.folkloreforum.org/saturdays

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Links:

Mexican President Sees Elf

Natalie takes you on a beginner's tour of Iceland's beloved folklore beings, the Hidden People or Huldufólk. 

Where are they from? 

What do they look like? 

Are they friendly or deadly? 

And, do Icelanders really believe in them? 

Natalie is answering all those questions and more!

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Plus, it's your chance to share your comments and ideas that help shape future episodes of the podcast.

Join Folklore Fridays by visiting www.folkloreforum.org/fridays

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Shownotes:

https://www.folkloreforum.org/post/a-beginner-guide-to-huldufolk

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Book Recommendations for Further Reading:

Looking for the Hidden Folk by Nancy Marie Brown

Icelandic Folktales by Jón Árnason (Icelandic)

The Huldufolk by Terry Gunnell and Brian Pilkington

The Story of the Gimli Huldufolk by Kathleen Arnason

Folktales have many overlaps from culture to culture. So do the origins of creatures in folklore. This mini episode is one such tale that explains the origin of huldufolk, elves, fairies, and more magical creatures!

Season 2 is called: “The Fair, The Hidden, and The Unusual.”

I chose this title deliberately because while different regions of the world use different languages to name and describe beings in folklore, when you get down to the basic details, the stories of these beings are nearly identical.

Which goes to show that stories aren’t contained by political or linguistic boundaries.

These beings typically fall into categories of beauty, hidden from sight, or just plain unusual.

Upcoming episodes will cover elves, huldufolk, fair folk, selkies, trolls, ogres, banshees and much more! You’ll hear their origin stories, metaphors, cultural significance, as well as modern interpretations of these beings in literature, film, and TV.

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Book Recommendations:

Are you looking for your next folktale or fantasy read? Look no further! We've teamed up with two groups of bestselling authors to offer a delightful free selection of new books and short stories introducing new fantastical worlds and characters. The best part? They’re all free on digital download only until January 31st! Find these free downloads and other recommendations at www.folkloreforum.org/books

The way the Icelanders commemorate the Epiphany, or as they prefer to call it, The Thirteenth Day, is completely bonkers and radically different from most of Europe. On this day, the King and Queen of the elves may visit your community bonfire, cows talk in rhyming couplets that will turn any human listener completely mad, seal-people drop their seal skins to dance naked on the beaches, and it's the last day to legally set off fireworks! But don't go booking your next vacation just yet... as fun as this day sounds, there are risks if you fail to follow the traditional rules! 

All in good fun! Natalie´s own two experiences of Þrettándin were far less exciting than is told in the stories. 

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Sources:

https://grapevine.is/mag/articles/2013/12/30/thirteen-things-about-threttandinn

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/epiphany-in-europe-sweetness-to-share

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Álfareiðin Song

Svavar Knútur

https://svavarknutur.bandcamp.com/track/lfarei-in

New Iceland Youth Choir: Ties That Bind

https://hljodsafn.is/albumDisplay/2742

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La Befana

https://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/art-culture/italian-christmas-legends-folklore

by Natalie Guttormsson

Not even death can prevent the Deacon of Dark River from fulfilling his Christmas promise.

Listen to Natalie read her retelling of the classic Icelandic folktale, Djákninn á Myrká, in this bonus Christmas episode of the podcast. 

Get your free copy of the Deacon of Dark River e-book by clicking here.

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Do you want more folklore in your life? Join our free Folklore Fridays membership where you'll receive:

Plus, it's your chance to share your comments and ideas that help shape future episodes of the podcast.

Join Folklore Fridays by visiting www.folkloreforum.org/fridays